Caroline Kennedy's name is being talked about for Clinton's senate seat.

(CNN) - Could Caroline Kennedy, considered to be among the most private members of the Kennedy clan, be tapped to fill Hillary Clinton's Senate seat?

Kennedy - who endorsed Barack Obama in February before the Super Tuesday round of primaries - is said to be considering the possibility, according to an ABC News report.

New York Gov. David Paterson, the man tasked with picking Hillary Clinton's successor, is remaining mum on the process, but a spokesman for Barack Obama issued a statement in the wake of rumors the president-elect is quietly lobbying Patterson to choose Kennedy.

"President-elect Obama has a very high regard for Caroline Kennedy," said Obama spokesman Stephanie Cutter. "But he has not spoken with Governor Paterson or Caroline Kennedy about the race, and has no involvement in this process."

Earlier, similar rumors circulated that former President Bill Clinton might be interested in the job, but the former president's office quickly released a statement saying he was not interested.

Caroline Kennedy's cousin, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., was also discussed as a potential successor, but formally took his name out of the running earlier this week.

Paterson still has a strong bench to choose from. There are a number of contenders, including several members of New York's delegation in the House of Representatives, New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, and Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi.

Whoever is chosen would have to be ready for virtually non-stop campaigning and fundraising over the next four years. Clinton's successor will face a hotly-contested campaign in 2010 to fill out the remainder of her term, then a re-election bid jut two years later.

soundoff(386 Responses)

debra

Caroline? Give me a break. She was on the team selecting a VP and made a lousy choice with Biden. SHE WAS A LOUSY CHOICE FOR EVEN THAT! What qualifies her? NOTHING!
If she gets the post it is only because of pressure from Obama. She has no credentials. If she wants a political spot, let her run for one like everyone else. CREEPY!

December 5, 2008 12:50 pm at 12:50 pm |

Al, NY NY

Dan so eloquently says.."It's obvious that you only need to be a celebrity to be 'qualified' to be a US Senator (Al Franken). I suppose the day is coming when we'll be hearing about the Rosie O'Donnell and Joy Behar candidacies."...well Dan, how about hearing in the future Elizabeth (the vacuous) Haselback, or Chuck Norris candidacies?

December 5, 2008 12:51 pm at 12:51 pm |

Joe

What she does'nt know i'm sure her uncle will sure wise her up real quick. Give her a chance like everyone else gets that goes into politics some don't have experience either. Just look at what we have in there today with experience. Nothing,

December 5, 2008 12:51 pm at 12:51 pm |

Bill Nash

For all of you that have apparently had your heads in the sand, McCain would not have one the election, with or without the ecomonic breakdown, period. McCain was never in it. The short-lived bounce he received after the convention would have dissipated. Palin was/is a disaster. Unless the GOP can figure out how to attract blacks, women and latinos, they will never win again. The majority of american's will be minorities by 2040, leaving the white minority at a distinct disadvantage. The GOP is a white party. So there are the facts. Obama will do a great job. Hillary will be elected in '16 & '20. the GOP will probably have self-destructed by '24.

December 5, 2008 12:51 pm at 12:51 pm |

Bill

The real answer is that dirtbag Obama and most Liberals treat the constitution if if it was worthless. Hillary can not be Sec of State, end of story.

Funny how the libs with failed plan after failed plan continue to change the landscape to suit their selfish, self-centered needs. The Liberals are the cause of almost every major and minor internal problem that this country has ever had. Including and especially the current financial crisis.

December 5, 2008 12:52 pm at 12:52 pm |

Paula

She is a SUPER choice!! Please let RFK Jr be in charge of the EPA!

December 5, 2008 12:52 pm at 12:52 pm |

Jack

Caroline seems like a great person, level headed etc... but what experience does she have...give me a break... why not put in Chelsea ... she has a political name too!!!

December 5, 2008 12:53 pm at 12:53 pm |

Phil in KC

Caroline Kennedy would be a very interesting choice. But, as noted in the article, she is a private person and I wonder how well that would play out.

December 5, 2008 12:55 pm at 12:55 pm |

RCLGuard

Super D – If the experience you're alluding to means taking expensive gifts from contractors and tapping your foot in a bathroom stall then I'd welcome Ms. Kennedy's experience in a New York minute.

December 5, 2008 12:55 pm at 12:55 pm |

Drill, Baby, Drill

Darn. She probably won't want to tear up the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge beacuse of this $4+ gasoline. Oh wait, it's under $1.50 now..gee I guess McCain, Palin, and the rest of the Republican Oil Barons were wrong - again! Go Caroline, love your genes!

December 5, 2008 12:56 pm at 12:56 pm |

BROOKLYN

The OLNY experience this woman has is that she is a Kennedy.

Obviously, the Democratic party wants to groom her to run for President in eight years...

Honestly, choosing her is a joke! A bad joke at our expense.

December 5, 2008 12:56 pm at 12:56 pm |

nyc118

Caroline Kennedy is well-known to New Yorkers. She has quietly and effectively led initiatives to aid the NYC public schools among other efforts. She is smart, well-educated and a quiet but hard worker. We, and and other state, would be lucky to have her as a senator.

December 5, 2008 12:56 pm at 12:56 pm |

Jim - New York

Anyone is better than Hilary. Hurray she's gone!!!!

Toss the candy in the streets and everyone dance!!!!
We are going to get rid of the supreme no clue idiot herself!

December 5, 2008 12:56 pm at 12:56 pm |

Gaylon Barrow

Still the Chappiwich river coward is still dictating who runs the government. WAKE UP AMERICA. THESE ARE NOT DESIRABLE FOLK. I THOUGHT OBAMA WOULD RISE ABOVE THIS. BUT WHEN TEDDY BOY EDORSED HIM I KNEW IT WOULD NOT BE WITHOUT COST. MAN I LOVE ALL THIS CHANGE TO AMERICA. OH WOE! IS US STUPID PEOPLE.

December 5, 2008 12:57 pm at 12:57 pm |

RCLGuard

Francie – The woman is a Harvard graduate and a Columbia Law School graduate and has been surrounded by politics her entire life, having lived in the Washington D.C. and the White House.

It's not just "the name"

December 5, 2008 12:57 pm at 12:57 pm |

Matthew

People saying that Caroline Kennedy does not have the experience to be a US Senator are probably that same people dying to put Sarah Palin a heartbeat from the most powerful position in the world. Get a clue...

Having said that, experience shouldn't always be the only criterion used to decide if someone should be eligible for a job. Strength of character, an even temperment and obvious intelligence, none of which Caroline Kennedy is lacking.

December 5, 2008 12:58 pm at 12:58 pm |

Dave, Central Illinois

So all you Libs who gripe about a Bush dynasty are just fine with another Kennedy stepping into office to replace another Clinton? This must be a part of that "change" that we can believe in. Hey Libs, I have a bridge for sale real cheap....

December 5, 2008 01:00 pm at 1:00 pm |

Justin in PA

Oh great, another person getting in to a political position because of their last name... fantastic!

December 5, 2008 01:02 pm at 1:02 pm |

Matt

Hell yeah. Just the fact that she's a Kennedy will drive the GOPpers out there into terminal coniption fits.

December 5, 2008 01:03 pm at 1:03 pm |

jeff

the last name dosnt make her qualified for the job,, i live in NYstate and we are taxed to death and one politician after another is being investigated,,even the new govener who in St Martin in eary nov 6-9 curtisy of big corperations

December 5, 2008 01:03 pm at 1:03 pm |

Bill Edgar

Sounds like politics as usual. All in the family.

December 5, 2008 01:04 pm at 1:04 pm |

DJ BURNS

IN MY FAMILY'S LIFE TIME THE JFK ERA WAS GREAT,THEN AS
HISTORY EVOLVED THE CLAN OF KENNEDYS TURNED TO
DISGRACE FOR US ALL. WE HAVE A NATION OF WORTHY FOLKS
WHO CAN RUN THIS NATION WITHOUT SELF INTEREST. WE DON'T NEED THE WANNA BE'S, WE NEED THOSE WHO HAVE TO
BE DRAGGED INTO SERVICE FOR OUR COUNTRY.

THINK ABOUT WHAT WE WERE,WHAT WE
WANT TO BE,WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO OUR FAMILIES,WHAT WE
HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE,WHAT WE OWE TO ALL OTHERS WHO
DESERVE WHAT WE HAVE AS AMERICANS.

DJ BURNS NAM VET NH

December 5, 2008 01:04 pm at 1:04 pm |

Tony in Alexandria

I would hope that Paterson would pick someone from upstate now that the NYS legislature is completely in NYC's pocket. I'm not completely in favor of Mayor Brown getting the nod, but think Rep. Higgins would be an excellent pick.

December 5, 2008 01:06 pm at 1:06 pm |

Mike

She's quite intelligent and capable and has been around politics her whole life. Her politics is also in line with the majority of NYers. Who does this remind me of? Hmmm sounds like a certain woman senator from NY who did a pretty good job as Senator for the past 8 years.

December 5, 2008 01:06 pm at 1:06 pm |

Who Sane

Why not Caroline for Senator? You don't have to have any qualifications anymore to be in public office. Just look at Obama.